Azerbaijan "strives for just and stable peace in the region and prefers the stepwise settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. In his words, first the Armenian armed forces should abandon the territories around Nagorno Karabakh where the refugees will return immediately. At the second stage the displaced persons should return to Shushi and other towns. "Only after that the status of Nagorno Karabakh can be considered,' he said.

Judging from the sequence sounded by the Azeri FM no progress can be expected in the conflict settlement in the near future. "The Armenian side demands guarantees for the right to self-determination of the Nagorno Karabakh population in exchange for releasing the territories around Karabakh. Return of Lachin and Shushi is not discussed. Return of Kelbajar is doubtful. The positions of the sides have not come closer for a centimeter," New Time Baku-based newspaper says.

For his part Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu remarked that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was many times discussed by the CoE. "Presently a hope for progress appeared. Political dialogue is of utmost importance at the current stage of the talks. The meeting of the Presidents may contribute to the alleviation of tension," he said.